1996-2007 Centre of Lightweight Structures TUD-TNO

Composites research was one of the oldest research topics in the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research TNO. The research was mainly material and process oriented, for advanced composites as well as commodity fibre reinforced plastics.
Delft University of Technology, faculty of Aerospace Engineering, a unique faculty in the Netherlands, educates engineers in the field of conceptual design and engineering of aerospace structures, in aluminium and advanced composites.

We, that is both TNO and Delft University, recognized the growing demand over the last decade for lightweight structures in non-aerospace markets. To meet this demand adequately from a view-point of market-oriented research and development, we started in June 1996 the Centre of Lightweight Structures TUD-TNO.

The mission of our centre was to strengthen the competitiveness of industrial clients, from SME to multinational in a wide range of markets, in the Netherlands and abroad, by developing innovative lightweight structural components. The goal of our mission was to transfer technology to our clients, based on contract research.

January 2005 we decided, after many discussions with TNO and Delft University, to continue our activities in a private company. Formally, November 2005 we started Lightweight Structures B.V. as a 100% subsidiary of TNO Companies B.V.

August 2007 we moved from the university building Kluyverweg 1, Delft into a new office: Rotterdamseweg 380, Delft. To expand our manufacturing activities we began to use a hall in Goirle. We used this production site until summer 2009.

December 2007
The investment funds Private Plus Fund and Heicop together with the management acquired all shares in Lightweight Structures B.V. from TNO Bedrijven B.V. on 31 December 2007. Aldert Verheus, Lightweight Structures CEO, says: “With the accession of Private Plus Fund and Heicop we can be sure of two well-endowed parties who will support our growth strategy. We want to pursue our strategy through acquisitions, amongst other things, in order thereby to make optimum use of opportunities we see in the worldwide market for composite structures. We particularly have expansion of engineering into production in mind here".

Private Plus Fund B.V's fund manager, Newion Investments Management, has a reputation as a dedicated investor with experience of investing in promising undertakings. Newion's involvement in combination with the willingness of Private Plus shareholders, all of them entrepreneurs or former entrepreneurs, to make their knowledge and experience available make Private Plus Fund unique. Private Plus Fund invests in small and medium-sized undertakings, financing accelerated autonomous growth or acquisitions, and by means of management buy-out or buy-in in the case of succession problems.

December 2008
Because the number of design & construct projects increased we merged our production with Rep-Air Composites B.V. in Ypenburg.